During the PAT visit,
nurses interview patients, gaining information about
allergies and previous surgeries, informing patients of
what to expect during surgery and recovery, and
instructing them on how to prepare themselves for the
upcoming surgical procedure.

Patients schedule their
testing three to five days prior to surgery, no matter
where the surgery is going to be performed.

Although most PAT
patients will be returning to Bellevue for the surgery,
anyone who is having surgery or other procedures out of
town may also have pre-operative tests done at The
Bellevue Hospital.

You and your doctor have decided that you
are going to have a surgical procedure. Your next step
is to schedule a visit to the Pre-Admission Testing (P.A.T.)
Department.

Whether you have your surgery at The
Bellevue Hospital or another facility, our Pre-Admission
Testing (P.A.T.) Department is here to provide you with
a medical information and history workup, laboratory
testing and education about your surgery or admission.
Most of the testing takes about an hour, depending on
the tests required, and can be done days and sometimes
weeks before your surgery date.

Listed below are some commonly asked
questions our patients have had regarding their P.A.T.
visit:

How do I make a Pre-Admission Testing
(PAT) appointment?
Many times your doctor's office will schedule your P.A.T.
appointment when they schedule your surgery date. All
of The Bellevue Hospital’s patients are required to
visit P.A.T. before having surgery. If you have not
received a P.A.T. appointment time from your doctor's
office please call (419) 483-4040 ext. 4305 to come see
us.

What should I bring to my PAT visit?
Your time spent with the PAT department before your
surgery is meant to document all of your necessary
medical information & history.

Please bring a list of the following items:

Your current medications including their strengths
and dosages.

Your past surgeries.

Current
medical problems.

Any
questions you may have about your procedure.

If you
have had medical tests done at other facilities, please
bring the reports with you, or a location of where they
were done so we may obtain a copy.

Also, bring any forms if you were asked to bring with
you.

Your insurance information, Medicare or Medicaid card if
you have one.

A copy of your living will or advance directive. It is
important that you and your physician review your living
will or advance directive. If you need assistance
completing these forms, please let us know and our
social services department will assist you. The paper
work will be placed in your medical record.

What tests will I have done during my
P.A.T. visit?
Your testing will depend on the type of procedure you
are having done and what your doctor orders. Some of
the tests may include the following:

Laboratory for some blood work

EKG (heart tracing)

Chest x-ray

Physical Therapy evaluation

Social Services meeting

And, a nurse from the P.A.T.
department will do a thorough medical history with
you as well.

How long will I be there?
Depending on the type of procedure and testing you
doctor orders, you can expect to spend 1-2 hours with
us.

If the visit is for a child, we take
extra care and time with them. We give children a tour
of our hospital. During this tour, we will introduce
them to a number of nurses and hospital staff they will
see on their surgery day. We will also show them the
departments they will visit during their stay with us.

The tour is not mandatory; however, we
encourage the visit so children are not as overwhelmed or
anxious with their surroundings on the day of their
surgery.

Where do I go for my visit?
Simply check in at the front desk for your scheduled
visit. The receptionist will escort you to the P.A.T.
department.

Can I get my pre-admission testing done
at The Bellevue Hospital if my procedure is at another
facility?
Yes. Our Pre-Admission Testing department will be happy
to complete your tests for surgery or admission to
another medical facility. Providing Quality Care, Close
to Home is what we do.